Human needs organizations unite to urge Congress to change priorities in federal budget

70 groups from across the country sign on to letter delivered to Congress March 14, 2006.

“Don’t increase Pentagon spending while decreasing spending for human needs.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Calling for a new and better definition of security, 70 organizations from across the U.S. today delivered a letter to every Member of Congress, urging vital changes in the proposed FY07 federal budget.

“Every day, we see people going about the business of staying safe and secure,” says Marie Rietmann, public policy director of Women’s Action for New Directions. “On the one hand, it means the government is ready: a police force that’s properly staffed; a fire department that’s adequately equipped; a hospital emergency room that’s ready.

“But even more than that, it means people are secure in their lives: with food, education, shelter. What it does NOT mean is a huge federal Pentagon developing outdated, expensive, and ineffective Cold War weapons systems. And this is where the President is funneling OVER HALF of all dollars in our discretionary federal budget.”

The letter -- organized by WAND and NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby -- cites the fact that the Pentagon budget is growing at a time when funds for human needs are shrinking; and does NOT include money needed for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The increasing funding of the military, both the Pentagon's regular budget and the substantial supplemental appropriations, is directly affecting families' ability to meet their day-to-day needs. The President has proposed cuts to 141 discretionary programs. Most of these programs affect low-wage earners and those unable to work, particularly children and the elderly. According to 2004 census poverty data, the number of families living below the poverty level has increased for the fourth year; and these are living in even deeper poverty. Among the most egregious of suggested eliminations are Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Preventive Care Block Grant, Community Services Block Grant, and many education programs.”

The proposed budget increases by $28 billion the money spent in the Defense Department and the nuclear weapons portion of the Energy Department, while it decreases money on all other discretionary services programs.

“As the most powerful, wealthiest country in the world, we should be able to take care of our citizens,” says Rietmann. “We should be smart enough to see beyond technologically arcane weapons systems to the real needs of our people.”

Organizations signing onto the letter
National Organizations
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Women's Action for New Directions
Americans for Democratic Action
Bair Foundation
Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities
Catholic Voices for Economic Justice
Church Women United
Council for a Livable World
Feminist Majority
Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies
Foster Family-based Treatment Association
Franciscan Friars (OFM) English Speaking Conference, JPIC Council
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Legal Momentum
Peace Action and the Peace Action Education Fund
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
National Council of Women's Organizations
National Foster Parent Association
National Organization for Women
National Priorities Project
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Presbyterian Church (USA) Washington Office
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Congregational Leadership Team
School Sisters of Notre Dame - Global Justice & Peace Commission
School Sisters of St. Francis, US Provincial Team
Service Employees International Union
Sisters of Charity, Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) Leadership Team
Sisters of Charity, Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) Women's Office
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Sojourners
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, US Section

Regional Organizations
Arkansas Hunger Coalition; Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind, Inc.; Little Rock, Arkansas
Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy; Redlands, California
Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity; Redwood City, California
Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco, California
The Leadership Team of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, California
Sisters of Charity, Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) West Regional Team; Sunnyvale, California
Snake River Alliance; Boise, Idaho
Project IRENE; Berwyn, Illinois
Sisters of Charity, Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) South Central Region Leadership Team; Dubuque, Iowa
Bread for the World; Farmington Hills, Michigan
Citizens for Peace; Farmington Hills, Michigan
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Leadership Council; Monroe, Michigan
Leadership Team of Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet; St. Louis Province, Missouri
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Regional Community of St. Louis, Regional Leadership Team; St. Louis, Missouri
Citizen Alert; Las Vegas, Nevada
Citizen Action New Mexico; Sandia Park, New Mexico
Ohio National Organization for Women, Ohio
Ohio Youth Advocate Program; Dublin, Ohio
Oklahoma Therapeutic Foster Care Association; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Benedictine Sisters; Mt. Angel, Oregon
Coastal Codepink, Women For Peace; Newport, Oregon and Code Pink Portland, Oregon
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility; Portland, Oregon
United Nations Association of the USA, Oregon Division; Portland, Oregon
Oregon PeaceWorks; Salem, Oregon
Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania
The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration; La Crosse, Wisconsin
Executive Committee of the Racine Dominicans; Racine, Wisconsin
School Sisters of Notre Dame - Milwaukee Provincial Council; Elm Grove, Wisconsin
Sinsinawa Dominican Elected Leadership (Central Council); Sinsinawa, Wisconsin